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POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF AFIKPO IN THE PRE- COLONIAL AND COLONIAL
PERIODS

Truancy Among Secondary School Students

In Ebonyi South Education Zone
By DoubleGist | Published: April 15, 2013

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TRUANCY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN EBONYI

SOUTH EDUCATION ZONE
TRUANCY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN EBONYI SOUTH
EDUCATION ZONE
The School is a social unit established by members of the society as a formal agency of
education in which the young (students) attend to learn about themselves, other people, as well
as the language, custom, attitude and the ways of doing things.
Staying in school is the first step to a good education and in order to achieve academic
excellence, the students are mandated by the school laws to attend school daily but due to some
factors (which work will unravel) most students absent themselves from formal school activities
hence engaging in truancy. When this happens, every one loses; students lose the benefits of
instruction, the society loses income and the community suffers from increase juvenile crime.
Historically, the origin of truancy can be traced to the Massachusetts compulsory Education Act
of 1647 and its subsequent school Attendance Act of 1852, which forced parents to send their
children for at least 12 weeks in a term (Michael, 2005).
To this Act, every school is by law required to notify any student who acquires five unexcused
absence within a school year.
However, it is through this unexcused absence from school without legitimate or legal
knowledge of parents, guardian or the school that truancy among students came into being.
Conceptually, the term Truancy has been defined in various ways by different people and
agencies such as counsellors, psychologist, sociologist, welfare Authorities and Educators in
general.
Stoll (2002) defines truancy as absence from school for no legitimate reason. He went further
to state that many students do skip either single class or even a full day school at least once
during their academic career. This is because they may want to attend a special event, prepare for
promotion night or simply take what is known in the world of work as a Mental health day.
This Isolated incidence (truancy) is quite typical and likely to create problems which can lead to
varied set of negative and even more dangerous consequences.
Peninsky (2000) wrote that when a child is a truant, it implies that he has been constantly absent
from school for so many days, weeks or even moths. Truancy, he further explains is a deliberate
absence from school for no medial or justifiable reason, with or without parental knowledge.
Peninskys explanation of truancy agrees very well with the definition given in Collins English
dictionary in which a truant is described as ones absent from duty without leave especially
children who absent themselves from school. In the same manner, Nwana (2004) explained

truancy to include Intentionally absenting of oneself from school without permission, leaving
without authorization and dodging of specific lesson periods.
Truancy on academic in secondary school is a situation in which students develop and show
adverse attitude and behaviour to learning. They absent themselves from classes using
unnecessary excuses such as in genuine sickness, fake suspension by the class teacher or school
authority and involvement in sport activities. Truancy can equally occur in a boring and
boredom classes, harsh teachers who are difficulty to approach and in an unconducive school
environment (Osarenren, 1999)).
The causes of truancy among secondary school students have been attributed to lack of writing
materials such as pen, pencil, exercise book, recommended text books, school uniform and
midday meal (Obe, 1998).
The government is also another major cause of student truancy. This is attributed to the fact that
Government do not pay teachers regularly and most of their allowance such as leave allowance,
sport and science allowance etc are being withheld, most teachers find it difficulty to be
committed and dedicated to their primary duties of teaching.
When this occurs and the students do not find their teacher in the class, the next plan of action is
truancy. It is common these days to see students roaming about in streets during school hours.
Such act has often been followed by incidence of aggressiveness and other terrible negative
actions.
Some parents due to the nature of their jobs, show nonchalant attitudes to their wards and as
such, they grow up to be corrupt and aggressive hence getting nothing and giving out nothing.
Most parents do give too much money to their wards thus contributing to their truant behaviours.
Also, with the breakthrough in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) which led to
the emergence of Internet system in the World Wide Web. The use of internet system, though
very beneficial to students, especially in the areas of research work as it provides them with a
medium of Interaction with renowned scholars and authors whom they wouldnt have ordinarily
met in their life time. Conversely, internet system have equally contribution much to the
promotion of truancy among secondary school students. This is because most students especially
those in secondary school do abandon their lessons to visit Internet cafes thereby spending much
of their valuable time and resource only to visit pornographic sites and some other sex related
sites which will in turn ruin their lives thereby increasing the rate of immoral behaviour among
youths in our society (Shyam, 2006).
The introduction of Internet use had denied students the chance of thorough research work as
ready-made materials are readily found on the Internet. This makes them to lack the in-depth
knowledge about the object of inquiry hence resulting to educated illiterates (Pam Willenz,
2006).
All these have drastically reduce the level of students academic performance in both Internal and
external examinations. Below is a review of students performance on six subjects in west Africa

Examination Council between 2000 to 2003 in one of selected secondary school in Ebonyi South
Educational zone(Onicha Technical College, Enuagu Onicha).

4 Year Percentage performance of Candidates in six subjects in Onicha Technical College.

Subject
Years
English lang.
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Government
Economics

%of passes at credit grade (1-6)

2000
2001
2002
2003
8.47
9.71
10.81
9.56
10.53
14.47
9.93
15.10
19.11
17.61
20.31
16.49
15.71
21.53
17.11
19.97
24.67
23.10
28.41
26.31
26.21
22.37
25.37
31.01

% of Failure (F9)
2000
2001 2002
65.33 64.91 64.18
64.28 56.11 64.73
51.47 54.71 50.10
52.91 48.59 55.81
44.31 46.89 41.09
41.97 48.24 43.13

2003
65.10
53.61
55.19
50.79
42.90
39.67

Sources: Statistics from WAEC Chief Examiners Report 2003.

As result of the inability of truant students to perform creditably in both Internal and external
examination, they eventually engage in examination malpractice in order to measure up in their
academic works. This their inadequacies in academic works do lead to waste of money and other
resources, Worst of it all is the psychological trauma which parents of truants children suffer due
to their failures in examination and other terrible negative attitude exhibited by their words such
as armed rubbery, prostitution, drug abuse and drug trafficking, and other social crimes ranging
from pick-pocketing to secret cult (Stool, 2002).
It is from the foregoing that the researcher recognized truancy as a delinquent act that has an illattitude-on secondary school students academic achievement as well as their moral lives. It is
therefore on this grounds that the researcher considers it necessary / pertinent and quite
imperative to carry out this study/ research so as to determine the extend to which truancy
reduces the academic achievement of secondary school students and as well ascertain the extend
to which truancy affects the society.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The objective of secondary school education in Nigeria is to provide students with
academic and vocational skills as well as moral ethics, but it is quite unfortunate that these
objectives have not been fully achieved due to the high level of students involvement in truant
behaviours. Due to this, this study aims at investigating truancy among secondary school
students in Ebonyi South Educational zone.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The main purpose of this study is to examine truancy among secondary school students in
Ebonyi South Educational zone. The research will further look into the following specific
purposes:
1.
2.
3.
4.

To determine the causes of truancy among secondary school students.

To ascertain the extent to which truancy affects students academic performance.
To find out how truancy manifest among secondary school students.
To determine the effect of truancy on the society.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is hoped that the result of this study will be useful to the followings:
1. To school administrators; this study, will examine the various causes and consequences
of truancy and state the ways of curbing it which will serve as a vital instrument for
effective school administration.
2. To parents; the study will equally give parents an insight on how and why their wards
engage in truancy.
3. The study will also be of immense value to Graduate and undergraduate students who are
studying administration in the field of education as it will give them an insight on how to
handle truant students.
4. The Study will also help in the discovery of the fundamental aspects of truancy that is
mostly found among students. With this, proper guidance and counseling will be giving
to them to enable them make the best out of education.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
To guide the proper conduct of this study, the following research questions were raised.
1. What are the causes of truancy among students in secondary school?
2. To what extend does truancy affect the academic performance of secondary school
students?
3. What are the ways through which truancy can manifest in students?
4. What are the effect of truancy on the society?

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research is designed to cover Ebonyi South Educational zone of Ebonyi state. This
study centres on truancy among secondary school students, it is mainly limited to public
secondary school students in Ebonyi South Educational Zone of Ebonyi State.

CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The review of related literature is presented under the following sub-headings:
-

Concept of truancy

Types of Truancy.

Truancy as a disciplinary problem in secondary schools.

Causes of Truancy.

Effects of Truancy

Suggestions for reducing truancy

Empirical studies.

Summary of Review of Related Literature.

CONCEPT OF TRUANCY
The term truancy has been conceptualised by different authors in different ways.
According to the International Dictionary of Education (2002), truancy is defined as a deliberate
absence from school without parental knowledge. In the same manner, the New Western
Comprehensive Dictionary Special Price Edition (2004), said that truancy is when a student
stays away without permission, anyone who absent himself from work or duty without good
reasons, the knowledge of the authority . The above definitions are in agreement that truancy
occurs when a student absents himself from school without due permission either from parents or
from the related authorities.
On its popular meaning Carter (2000) considers truancy as a:
deliberate absence from school on the part of the pupil without the knowledge and consent of
parents; absence of the pupil from the school for which no reasonable or acceptable excuse is
given (this latter concept broadens the definition considerably and makes it synonymous with
unexcused absence.

Similarly Adeyemo (1999) defines truancy, as a delinquent act which occurs when a child often
stays away from the school without good reasons.
These definitions indicated certain elements of truancy that must be stressed and in order to have
a proper understanding of the concept. Carters definition carries the implication that the act of
truancy is deliberate and that the reason for absence is invalid from the view points of parents
and school authorities and not from that of the truant.
TYPES OF TRUANCY
There are three types of truancy which are as follows:
-

Habitual Truancy

Occasional Truancy

Casual Truancy

HABITUAL TRUANCY
This is the type of truancy that occurs when a student (truant) constantly and continually
absent from school without the due knowledge or consent of his parents and school authorities.
Habitual truants are mainly those students who miss numerous full days of school academic
activities. Their frequency of absenteeism have become a regular behaviour or habit. It is
important to note that students who are habitual truants have high chances of falling behind in
their school work, decline in their academic performance and even lose their attachment or
positive attitudes towards school (Ezeani, 2006).

OCCASIONAL TRUANCY
This type of truancy occurs when a student does not constantly and continually absent
himself from school. In this type of truancy, the students level of absenteeism from school
without the permission of parents or school authority is irregular or not regular. For instance a
child whom the mother refuse going to school and was kept at home to help care for siblings,
and the child taken out of school for an out-of-season family holiday e.t.c are all instance of
occasional truant (Ezeani, 2006).

CASUAL TRUANCY

This is the type of truancy which occurs when the students absence from school is by
chance. This type of truancy or unexcused absence from school is not regular and constant but
happens by chance. For instance students who remained lurking within sound of the school bell,
so that they could attend those lessons, which interested them (Ezeani, 2006).

TRUANCY AS A DISCIPLINARY PROBLEM

In every human society, there are norms and values which are socially and morally
accepted ways of doing things within a societal set up. But in a situation where a persons
behaviour contradicts the accepted societal ways of doing things then such a person is regarded
as a law breaker, a deviant or delinquent (Bolarin, 1999).
In the present day Ebonyi State, truancy as a delinquent act is commonly indulged in by both
adults and young people. Just as some able bodied adults who are gainfully employed roam
about the streets and absent themselves from work for no genuine reason So also do some
school children roam about the streets thus absenting themselves from school or classes regularly
without concrete reasons or permission from the related school authorities. However, the
problem of truancy is the most common among the youths and this is regarded as a child lacking
discipline.
Discipline as a concept is very important in the practice of education. A learner who lacks selfdiscipline can not learn effectively. Discipline in the words of Adesina (1998) is referred to
as when students are taught to respect the school authorities, to observe the school laws,
regulations and to maintain an established standard of behaviour.
Uka (2003) sees discipline in modern classroom management as the provision of a suitable
environment for pupils to develop self-control, orderliness, good conduct, co-operation and the
habit of getting the best out of themselves during and after school life. More so, both the English
Readers Dictionary (2002) and the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (2004) concurred
that discipline is the training especially of the mind and character to produce self-control, habit
of obedience e.t.c.
However, a child who lacks discipline is regarded as being indisciplined. Indiscipline is one of
the serious social problems facing Nigerian schools in general and Ebonyi State in particular and
the aspect of indiscipline that is of greatest concern in the present day school students is
truancy (this concept has been clearly explained in the earlier part of this work).
At the National Conference on Discipline and Motivation in schools held in 1999, Abia, Jatau,
Ojomo, Ibrahim, Shakaraom, and Oloko pointed out the following factors as causes
of indiscipline in Nigeria schools; the home, prevailing situation in the society, the school
physical facilities, teachers and school administrators, peer group, security agents, ineffective
teaching, authoritarian methods of administration and policy makers. As regards the above
causes of indiscipline, parents are required to speak seriously to their wards on the effects of
indiscipline especially truancy and lateness.

In the words of Ehimmora (2001), he stressed that truancy is an age-old aspect of indiscipline
which brings the school authority into disrepute and in addition ,the unofficial coming and going
of children at others times other than normal school day, naturally brings about indiscipline and
interrupts normal school routine.
On the reasons why secondary school students absent from school without permission from
appropriate authorities, Tyerman (2005) suggest four reasons why truancy as an indiscipline act
occurs;
1. 1. As a result of illness the child who is sick may be deliberately kept at home. Most
parents having kept the children at home in good faith will not think it necessary to
inform the school authority.
2. 2. Parents withdrawal In this case, a child is kept away from school by the parents
for their own purpose, maybe to help them in household chores/business.
3. 3. The child absents himself in his own volition in this case, the child absented
himself without the permission of parents or school.
4. 4. School phobia In this case a child seems to be afraid of going to school or leaving
his home, yet his parents are anxious for him to attend school regularly.

In all, truancy as a disciplinary problem cannot be left unchecked because of the likely effect it
could have on the future truants. Healy (2006) states rightly that truancy is the kindergarten of
crime. If a school child finds that he can avoid going to school without any serious repercussion,
he will sooner or latter believe that he can succeed in other offences. His idleness while playing
truancy will set the scene for other crime such as stealing of money and goods. For the problem
of truancy as an indiscipline act in schools to be solved, all the related institutions that are
involved in child upbringing such as the family, church and school must play active roles.

CAUSES OF TRUANCY
The problem of secondary school truancy in recent times is so alarming and if the issue is
not properly handled would greatly affect the effort of government in achieving the objectives of
secondary education which so much resources has been spent on. On the causes of truancy,
authors differ in their opinion as regards the factors that are responsible for truancy. Evidence
from reviewed related literature has indicated that the following factors such as; poor home
upbringing, school circumstances, psychological and personality factors, socio-economic
situation of the students and societal demands, influence of peer group, social and government
influence/factors are the major causes of truancy.

HOME UPBRINGING

Tracing the causes of truancy back to home upbringing, Cronbach (1998) writes the
truants came from unsatisfactory home situation, families on relief, broken home and the like.
In the same vein, Ezekwugo (2005) comments that training of children starts from home, and
where this is properly done, the foundation laid at home, the school will not find it difficult to
continue the education properly.
Furthermore, authors stress that in most cases, the seeds of truancy are laid at home. Odueze
(2001), asserts that for education to be real and effective, there should be sound co-operation
between the home and the school.
This view is supported by English (1999) who wrote:
what children need most are parents who can control them. Many are over privileged by been
permitted to do as they please. Children who demand too much of their parents, demand too
much of the society. The adult should exert control over children and also to mean the orderly
and obedient behaviour that this control is designed to secure.

Still relating home upbringing to students school behaviour, Shaw as reported by Odueze (2001)
states:
Whilst few of us would doubt that the main influence on a childs life is his home, that of school
is a good second, the closer the co-operation between these two, the happier must be the child
and the more successful his development in every aspect.

Although, he brings in the idea of punishment, Odueze emphasizes parents role in the treatment
of a truant. He, in one breath asserts that corporal punishment leads to truancy in school and
therefore results in acts of indiscipline. And in another breath he holds that punishment should
be given to a child but by the parents. This last assertion suggests that the teacher and the parent
operate together in the school and that the duty of the parent is to punish the truant while that of
the teacher is to teach.
Carter (2000) Crobach (1998), English (1999), Odueze, (2001) and Ezekwugo (2005) indicated
that the seed of truancy is laid at home. Poor home upbringing may manifest itself at school in
the form of truancy. They emphasise the need for sound co-coperation between the home and the
school for any serious and fruitful tackling of the problem of truancy.

SCHOOL FACTORS
In a study carried out by Ogunwe (2003), he pointed out how school factors could
contribute to the problem of truancy. To him, some teachers have been found to be very hostile

to the children put under their care. Some have been found not to have interest in teaching as a
career, some were found not to be attending classes regularly thereby giving room for children to
skip classes and develop the habit of truancy while some teachers have been found to be fond of
punishing students for all offences they commit thereby scaring some of them from attending
school regularly.
In another study carried out by Ehinmolo (2006) on perception of classroom Teachers on causes
of truancy and control among secondary school children, the following findings on school
factors as the causes of truancy were made:
a) Educational problem is a cause of truancy among secondary school children the
educational problem may range from the child not being able to read, write and spell properly to
his not being able to assimilate and understand what is read.
b) Disinterest in certain school subjects as a cause of truancy Students hatred for certain
teachers can be a cause of truancy as the hatred will be brought about through the interaction of
students and teachers in the classroom. Also un-stimulating or un-interesting lesson can cause
truancy.
c) Distance from school and transportation problems are also causes of truancy among school
children.
Still on school circumsance as a cause of truancy, Blair, Green and Jones (1999) observed in
their book Educational psychology that:
In the face of thwarting and distressing school situation, some pupils find that the easiest way
out is to keep away from school and some of the children develop hysterical reactions, e.g. some
children become ill on examination days.

In a similar manner Ezekugo (2005) points out that truancy may be due to the type of teacher
posted to a school or the attitude of the teachers towards the students, poor teaching, poor
organisation, poor attendance of teachers contribute highly to the truancy of students. She made
reference to Simpsons idea that a truant is one who is not happy with schoolwork either because
of something is wrong with the school or with pupil himself and instead plans to do something
else.
Izuogu (2002) in her own contribution to the causes of truancy holds that poor preparation of
lessons by teachers, use of abusive words on pupils, frequent use of punishment and too much
demand of this or that from the pupils, can contribute to pupils staying away form school.
However, facts collected from related literature reviewed indicated that the general school
condition has a hand in the cause of truancy.

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY FACTORS

Hurlocks (2003) relates the cause of truancy to psychological factors writing about an adolescent
who is making poor adjustment she writes:
The adolescent who is making poor adjustment at home, in school or with his peers
usually engage in more misdemeanour than does the adolescent who is better adjusted. This is
seen in the case of truancy, truants suffer from personality disorders due to poor home
conditions, they gave poor work habits in the school and are retarded with the result that
when they are in class with younger children with whom they have very little in common, they
stay away from school in order to escape this frustration environment.

Her way of relating psychological and personality traits agrees well with the direction followed
by the dictionary definition of the term. Frustration and even lack of self confidence mentioned
by Hurlock could lead to truancy. Also self assertion could be related to truancy. Besides,
improper and inappropriate adjustment both home and school circumstance can give rise to act of
truancy.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION OF THE STUDENTS

Mussen, Conger and Kegan (2000) stated that socio-economic problem and parent-child
relationship could contribute to delinquent behaviour. Inconsistent administration of reward and
punishment by parents teach their children the response values and benefits appropriate for their
social class. Class training for the child ranges from the control of his manners to his educational
and occupational goals.
In his list of causes of truancy, Adeyamo (1999) pointed out that lack of basic school materials
to work with, makes pupils to run away from the school. He also writes that;
if a child has no exercise book, pen and reading books, he would not like to be punished by the
teacher and as such he runs away from the school.

It may be said that the economic status of the parents may contribute to truancy. If the parents
are unable to provide the students with the basic school needs, they may be forced to go out of
the school to look for such needs. More so, from the related literature reviewed, it was
discovered that even students in possession of surplus money still play truancy.

PEER GROUP INFLUENCE

The peer group and classmates have effects on the students truant behaviour. As the child
frees himself from dependence and control of parents and other adults, he falls back on peer
group, for direction and control.
To Nigerian Teachers (2004), members of peer group do put inside their personal feeling and
follow the dictates of peer in order to remain in group. Due to this strong feelings and
attachment, peer group has generally been viewed as the vehicle through which students learn
truant act.
In his speech, Ubaezuonu (1998) said that a boy or a girl can easily mess up a dozen of others of
his friends in the school. To him, when a child who is very good boy or girl enters secondary
school at the formative age of between ten and fourteen years, when such a child must have
been in the school for two to three terms, you start wondering whether it is still your ward. This
to him is because he will turn out to be a completely changed child.
Dewey and Humber (2006) state that the need for a student to conform and be like by his peers
may bring the student into conflict with his own family. This sensitive young persons is anxious
to please his beloved ones and to maintain prestige in the eyes of his own generation this often
lead the students into the act of abandoning everything he is supposed to be doing like attending
classes and begin to work from place to place in search of where he will get money to be like his
peer groups. When this happens, the student will never understand what is going on in the class
because he is always absent from school.
EFFECTS OF TRUANCY
Having identified and explained some of the causes of truancy among secondary school
students, the next of focus in this review of related literature is the effects of truancy on
students.
According to Geo-Opah (2003) in his study on the Effects of delinquency on academic
achievement. In this study, 168 secondary school students were used. He reported in his findings
that, out of this 168 students, 50 were identified as truants and 118 as non- truants. 35 of the
truants were poor in academic achievement while 15 were good academically, 32 were male
truants and 18 were female, 16 of the truants were from low socio-economic background,
31were truants due to unfriendly environment in the school Based on the statistical analysis of
the data gathered, Geo-opah (2003) reported the following findings:
That truants are noted for poor academic performance. Both male and female commit acts
leading to truancy nowadays, children from low-socio-economic background are more prone to
truancy since they lack money and materials for schooling, children from broken homes commit
acts leading to truancy than their counterparts form stable homes.
Writing on the effect of truancy in one of the leading Nigeria Dailies, Akorede of the University
of Benin observes;

They become a social menace threatening law and order and channelling the equilibrium of the
state. They are the core political mal contents becoming riotous and violent in their reaction to
authority and their age-mates who have made some achievements (New Nigeria, 2001).

Dittimiya (2001) in his view on the effects of truancy maintains that truancy among students
have greatly affected the development of human resources needed for social and economic
transformation of the society. To him, truancy is a destructive and undeserving elements of
progress, training or mode of life. It is an impediment to national development. Truancy allows
students to pervert the whole aim of education, examination and public morality it does not
encourage development rather it retards progress of the school and the entire society.
According to Durkhein (2000), Truancy is a gateway to serious violent and non-violent crime.
To him, students truant act lead to stealing, fighting, drug addictions, destruction of property, sex
scandal and armed robbery. Hence when a student is always absent from classes or school
environment, what comes to his mind is evil. He plans how to destroy, how to get rich quick and
becomes a millionaire.
In recent times, high percentage of the crime committed are by students of secondary schools.
According to the related literature reviewed by the researchers, it was discovered that most
crimes are committed during school period than holidays, this is because students who engage in
truant behaviour are more busy with their parents and guardians during the holidays. The
researcher also discovered that truants. Due to absence from school academic usually repeat
classes and even when they are repeating, they do not feel better because they feel that they are
too big for such a class. Though few of them (truants) manage to struggle through school and
majority of them usually drop out of school if some form of interventions are not taken.
Their level of achievement is generally poor because their emphasis is not on academics. They
even see school as a form of punishment and something they are doing not for their sake but to
please their parents and guardians.
In all, the adverse effects of truancy manifest most when they drop out of school thereby
constituting social nuisance as the male will take to armed robbery and the female
prostitution, this therefore becomes a problem for the society.
SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO REDUCE TRUANCY
Having known what truancy means, whom truants are, causes and effects of truancy, the
next area of interest is the type of treatment that can be given to truants to make them change
their negative attitude at school.
Research studies on ways of reducing truancy or on the treatment of truants in Nigeria school
show that the most popular treatment given to truants in the school system is Corporal
Punishment, which in most cases involves cutting of grass, scrubbing of floors, uprooting figs,

sweeping of school compound, planting of flowers e.t.c. This approach however has been
referred t as the traditional approach and non-functional (Obe, 1998).
For the problem of truancy to be reduced if not eliminate in our schools, all hands must be on
deck and there must be total revolution in our ways of life and sense of values.
The homes, school and the society must relate closely and as well adopt a communicative
approach, which should mostly involve both the parents and the truants along with their teachers.
More so, teachers should be good role models. Some teachers have been found to be habitual
latecomers and truants. Such teachers are bad models for the students kept under their care. on
the other hand, adult members of the society must endeavour to lead by example. Truants in the
school must be assisted in all possible ways to develop the habits of self-control based on reasons
rather than on force (Ezeani 2006).
Counselling can also be used in assisting truants to give up truancy. To this effect, when truants
are identified, school counsellors should ensure that they counsel the students so far identified as
truants. Parents should also try to provide some of the basic requirements their children need at
school within their meagre resources, (Onyejiaku, 2004).
Due to the fact that truancy is a problem that not only affects the students, but also the students
family, school and the entire society, Michael (2005) in his article titled Manual to Combat
Truancy, suggested five primary elements of educational strategy to combat truancy, they
include:

1. 1. Involve Parents in all Truancy Prevention Activities: According to this element,

parents play the fundamental role in the education of their children. No body else
commands greater influence in getting young persons to go to school every day and
recognising how a good education can define his future than the parents. For families and
school to work together to solve problems like truancy there must be mutual trust and
communication. Schools can also help by being family-friendly and encouraging
teachers and parents to make regular contact before problems arise. Schools should help
in training of teachers to work with parents, hiring or appointing a parent liaison and to
arrange for parent meetings through which parents will have a voice in school decisions,
by so doing the problem of school truancy will be reduced.

1. 2.

Establish on-going Truancy Prevention Programmes in School:

Research findings has reviewed that truancy is a symptom of a much larger problem. In order to
curb this ugly incidence, schools should address underlying needs of each child to ensure that
truancy is not a re-occurring behaviour. Also students basic educational needs such as
conducive teaching and learning environment, adequate instructional materials and

other academic facilities like library, laboratory and technical workshops e.t.c should be
provided for students so as to help attract their regular school attendance (Michael, 2005).

3. Ensure that Students Face Firm Sanctions for Truancy:

For effective reduction of truancy, schools must communicate to students and families that
truancy will not be tolerated from any student and that any student found in this act must face
severe and firm punishment from related school authorities.
4. Create Meaningful Incentives for Parental Responsibility:
This is also another suggested element on how truancy can be curtailed among students.
Following this principle, the school should create incentive programme both for the parents and
children. Positive incentives such as participation in publicly funded activities and cash awards
to be given to any parent who plays positive role in truancy reduction among students. On the
other hand negative sanctions like fines and imprisonment should be administered to parents who
are nave about their wards irregular attendance to schools, all this will help to promote parental
responsibility towards the reduction of truancy (Michael, 2005).

5. Involvement of Law Enforcement Agency in Truancy Reduction>

In order to enforce regular school attendance policies, school officials should establish close
linkage with law enforcement agents like police, probation officer, Juvenile and family court
officials e.t.c to help prosecute any student caught playing truancy (Michael, 2005).
To crown it all, government should help the police department and court system to establish and
run temporary detention centres where they can drop-off school truants. Also the government
should as well embark on some other anti- truancy initiatives like Operation Sweep Students
Truants in neighbourhoods. With these suggestions, truancy among secondary school students
and even those in primary and tertiary institution will be reduced if not eradicated.
EMPIRICAL STUDIES
The following are facts that are related to this study.
1. Udo (2002) studied factors related to Truancy Among Senior Secondary School Students.
The aim of this study was to provide information on factors related to truancy among senior
students in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. A sample population or size of 1,262 which
were drawn from all the secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. An A 46
item questionnaire were designed based on the research questions and administered to elicit
information on factors related to truancy among Senior Secondary School students. Five research

questions were posed for the study while two hypotheses were formulated and they were tested
using T-test.
The finding revealed that the following factors were responsible for truancy among senior
secondary school students; unstable homes, teacher/school factors, psychological and personality
factors, the demand of modern living. From the findings of the research, it was discovered that
school circumstance i.e. Teacher/school factor is the major causes of truancy among senior
students.
This study carried out by Udo (2002) is related to the present study in the sense that both studies
are aimed at determining the main factors that causes truancy among secondary school students.
However, while the last study was interested in only truancy among senior students, the present
study is interested in all the seconday school students both junior and senior.

2. Geo-Opah (2003) studied Effects of delinquency on academic achievement. The purpose

of this research was to identify delinquent act such as truancy, juvenile delinquency, absenteeism
e.t.c and their effects on the academic achievement of students. A sample size of 168 secondary
school students were used which were drawn from some selected secondary school at Nkanu
West Local Government Area. Four research questions were put forward and were tested using
chi-square. Form the findings, the researcher observed that out of the 168 students, 50 were
identified as truants and 118 as non- truants but engage in other delinquent acts.
According to the findings, truants are noted for poor academic performance, both male and
female commit acts leading to truancy. Children from broken homes commit more acts leading
to truancy than their counterparts from stable homes.
This review relates much to the present study. The last study tried to analyse the causes and
effects of truancy and other delinquent acts on the academic performance of students, while
present study is interested in both causes. Consequence and remedies of truancy among
secondary school students.
However, while the last study was interested in other delinquent acts like juvenile delinquency,
absenteeism e.t.c the present study only investigated on truancy. Besides, the last study was
carried out in some selected secondary schools at Nkanu-West local government of Enugu state,
not in the secondary schools of Ebonyi South Educational Zone of Ebonyi State.

3. Chiakpu (1977) studied Truancy Among Secondary School Students in Enugu East Local
Government Area
The researcher delved into this study with the aim of ascertaining the possible causes of truancy
and how truancy manifest among students. This study involves 7 secondary schools in Enugu

East Local Government Area which were randomly drawn to respond to 15 questionnaire
items carefully selected to reflect the purpose of the study.
Three research questions were posed for the study and were tested using T-test. The researcher
came out with the following findings; that over-size families, Effect of politics, school related
factors and peer group influence are the core causes of truancy among secondary school students
in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu state.
The researcher also discovered that the age at which truant behaviour began to manifest among
students is between 14 and 16 years. The study was related to the present study because peer
group influence and school circumstance or related factors which the last researcher discovered
as the causes of truancy are also among what the present study identified as the major causes of
truancy in secondary schools.
SUMMARY OF REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE.
The literature review had among other things highlighted and discussed some vital issues
that are pertinent to this study. In this study, truancy were conceptualised and some authors
views and opinions were reviewed and most of them concurred that truancy is simply unexcused
absence from school without either parental knowledge or school authorities.
Also, the various types of truancy such as casual truancy, habitual truancy, occasional truancy
were listed and explained. The review also looked at truancy as a disciplinary problem in
schools and maintains that truancy if not checked in school that it can lead to bigger societal
crimes because truancy is the kindergarten of crimes. The review also looked at the
various causes of truancy among secondary school students such as poor home upbringing,
school factors, psychological and personality factors, socio-economic situation of the students
and influence of peer group. In this work, the effects of truancy on students was not left out. The
review shows that truancy do lead students into stealing, fighting, drug addition, destruction of
property, sex scandal and armed robbery.
Furthermore, strategies with which truants are to be treated was suggested which comprises of
guidance and counselling, use of corporal punishment, involve parents in all truancy prevention
activities, ensure that students face firm sanctions for truancy and use of law enforcement
agency.
Finally, it was observed from the literature that some studies carried out in Nigeria had shed
some light on related areas of this study and this has helped to throw more light on the direction
of the study. Such studies include Ude (2002), he studied factors related to truancy among senior
secondary students, Chiakpu in (1997) studied truancy among secondary school students in
Enugu East Local Government Area. e.t..c.
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION, SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

DISCUSSION OF FINDING
It is important to note that the discussion of the findings on truancy among secondary school
students in Ebonyi South Educational Zone of Ebonyi State are done under the following subheading.
1. What are the Causes of Truancy Among Students in Secondary School?
2. To What Extent Does Truancy Affect the Academic Performance of Secondary School
Students
3. What are the Ways through which Truancy can Manifest in Students?
4. What are the Effects of truancy on the Society?

1. What are the Causes of Truancy Among Students in Secondary School?

Table 1 with item a, b, c, and d dealt with research question 1. Based on the findings, it was
discovered that truancy is caused mostly when the school authorities are not strict over the
misbehaviours of students in Ebonyi South Educational Zone. In fact, the truth is that school
authorities pay non-challant attitudes to students misbehaviour especially truancy in the zone.
From data analysed, it reveals that such factors like the inability of parents to provide their
children with basic school needs and teachers negative attitude towards teaching, like
absenteeism, laziness and indifference e.t.c are among the greatest cause of truancy among
secondary school students. It was as a result of this that Ogumwemino (2002) sates that some
teachers have been found not to have interest in teaching as a career, some are very hostile to
children put under their care while some were found not to be attending classes regularly thus
giving room for children to skip classes. For the above problem to be solved, teachers should
change their negative attitudes to teaching and should see teaching as a professional job.
2. To What Extent Does Truancy Affect the Academic Performance of Secondary School
Students.
From the findings of the research, it was discovered that constant failure in test, examination and
poor performance in classroom activities with the mean scores of 4.26 and 4.11 respectively are
the major effects of truancy on the academic achievement of students. On this effect, Dittimiya
(2002) stressed that if the above effect of truancy is not solved, that it will greatly affect the
development of our human resources needed for social and economic transformation of our
society. To him, truancy is a destructive and under serving element to national developments and
as such, it must be tackled squarely.
3. What are the Ways through which Truancy can Manifest in Students?

Table 3 with item a, b, c and d attempts to answer research question 3. According to the
responses of the respondents it was revealed that constant absent from school, constant dodging
of class lesson, inability of students to do class assignment home work and constant late coming
to school are the most common ways truancy manifest in students. From the above table, item a
with highest mean score of 4.21 indicates that over 80% of students who engage in truancy are
those who constantly absent themselves from school without due permission from related
authorities either parents or school authorities.
4. What are the Effects of truancy on the Society?
Research question 4 is designed to elicit facts on effects of truancy on the society. While
responding to the questions, the respondents maintain that the following are the adverse effects
of truancy on the society which include: increased rate of academic failures; high rate of crimes
like armed robbery; increased rate of unemployment in the society and high rate of touting. As
regard the above effects, authors like Durkhein and Menniger (2005) stated that if the above
effects are not properly handled, that it can lead to more serious crimes like high rate of day time
burglary and vandalism, suicidal behaviours, drug addiction, human and drug trafficking and
high risk sexual behaviour which will go a long way in retarding societal growth and
development as its educational institutions which is the key to societal progress and development
will suffer degradation due to high rate of academic failures in the society.

SUMMARY
This study on Truancy among secondary school students in Ebonyi South Educational Zone:
Myth and facts has been successfully carried out. The aim of this study was to determine the
causes of truancy among secondary school students, identify the effects of truancy on the
academic performance of students and to examine the ways through which truancy manifest
among students in secondary schools.
In order to achieve the above aims four-research questions were posited to guide the proper
conduct of the study. To obtain answers to these questions, a 16-item questionnaire was
formulated based on the research questions and was administered to the sample area which were
made up of five selected secondary schools from the zone with a total population of one hundred
which were randomly selected.
Responses obtained through the questionnaire were analysed in clusters using mean and standard
deviation. From the analysis of the data obtained, the following findings were made:
1. That the causes of truancy among students in secondary schools are when the school
authorities are not strict over misbehaviour of students, inability of parents to provide their
children with basic school needs and teachers negative attitudes towards teaching and students
like absenteeism, hatred, unapproachable e.t.c.
2
That constant failure in test and examination and poor performance in classroom activities
are the major effects of truancy on the academic performance of students. In all the findings still
reveal that truant students are always below average in their academic performance/achievement.

3
On the ways truancy can manifest in students, respondents were in agreement that constant
absent from school, inability of students to do class assignment and homework and constant
dodging of lessons are the core ways though which truancy manifest among students.
4
On the effects of truancy on the society, the respondents responses reveal that increase rate
of academic failures in the society, high rate of crimes like armed robbery, prostitution and
increase rate of unemployment are the main effects of truancy on the society.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the findings of the research, the researcher hereby makes the following
recommendations:
1. School authorities should reinforce in her mode of enforcing school rules and regulations
as this will go a long way to reduce students misbehaviours in school
2. Teachers should see themselves as role models and as well see teaching as their
professional career by so doing their negative attitudes towards teaching and students
will be reduced if not eliminated.
3. Parents should be mandated by school authorities to provide their children with basic
school needs, as this will reduce unnecessary outings among students.
4. Students who perform poorly in examination and test should face firm punishment or
sanctions duly supervised by the class teacher so that in subsequent test and examination
they will work harder.
5. Form masters and mistresses should ensure that their class register is marked twice every
day as this will enable them dictate those who are not always present in the class.
6. Government should help the police department to establish and run temporary detention
centres where they can drop off truant students, also the government in conjunction with
the police should as well embark on some other anti-truancy initiatives like operation
sweep truant students in the neighbourhoods. By so doing truant students and
potential ones will be afraid of engaging in truancy with this its likely adverse effects on
the society will be eradicated automatically.

CONCLUSION
Truancy is one of the fundamental aspect of indiscipline that is more pronounced among
secondary school students which has in one way or the other thwarted the aims and goals of
secondary education in Nigeria in general and Ebonyi State in particular.
This study on truancy among secondary school students in Ebonyi South Education Zone:
Myth and facts has succeed in profounding efficient recommendations which will be of immense
help to reducing if not eradicating truancy in school hence helping in the attainment of secondary
education goals and objectives if it is duly implemented.

TRUANCY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN EBONYI SOUTH

EDUCATION ZONE

Related posts:
1. PREPAREDNESS FOR COMPUTER EDUCATION IN EBONYI STATE
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
2. Student Performance in English Language in Nigeria
3. Problems Affecting The Academic Performance of Rural Secondary School Students
4. Continuous Assessment Factors Inhibiting The Implementation Of Continuous
Assessment In Secondary Schools

This entry was posted in Education and tagged Ebonyi State, SECONDARY SCHOOL,
TRUANCY. Bookmark the permalink. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
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6 Comments

1.

F. M. Willz
Posted September 3, 2013 at 9:14 pm | Permalink
Tanx 4 dis msg, its explicit n comprehensive
Reply

2.

peter ekuri
Posted September 1, 2013 at 7:58 pm | Permalink
am happy 4 what i hv see here p
ls can u help me wit d REFERECNCE pls tank u
Reply

3.

willz danda
Posted August 25, 2013 at 9:27 pm | Permalink
Am so grateful
Reply

4.

Adekunle Niyi
Posted August 7, 2013 at 4:30 pm | Permalink
Wow! Insightive, educative, informative, even entertaining. I love the write-up. Pls, I
would love to have the complete material. Trauancy is one major problem afecting our
educational sector. Its unfortunate our legislators do not see this rather they see underaged marriages, they set bad examples, using mase to hit theirselves on the head in the
house etc. Ssh!
Reply

5.

adeyanju emmanuel
Posted July 18, 2013 at 7:05 am | Permalink
I like this write up thank you and God bless you sir I realy like the topice and the way out
to truancy
Reply

6.

mgonja ri
Posted April 28, 2013 at 4:30 am | Permalink

truancy is a cronic problem in most of countries .especially secondary students.

Reply

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